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Acaena echinata

Sheep's burr

Rosaceae Southeastern Australia

Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Acaena echinata is a low, spreading perennial herb that forms loose mats from slender stems rooting at the nodes, with flowering stems rising 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) tall. The leaves are pinnate, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, divided into 7-13 toothed leaflets that are grey-green to green above and paler beneath. Small greenish flowers without petals are packed into rounded heads about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across on erect stalks through spring and summer. As the heads mature they harden into burrs bearing barbed spines that catch on wool, fur, and clothing and carry the seed away. The trailing stems spread across open ground and root where they touch soil, building a patchy groundcover. Foliage dies back during drought and after frost, regrowing from the rootstock and rooted nodes. The plant grows in grassland and open woodland and persists in lawns and disturbed ground, where the spiny burrs cling to passing animals.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Grows in grassland, grassy woodland, and open disturbed ground on a range of soils from sea level to montane elevations.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a low groundcover in native and rockery plantings and between paving, spaced about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart to knit into a mat. Used on banks where rooting stems bind the soil. The spiny burrs cling to clothing and animal fur, which limits its use in lawns and beside paths.

How to Identify

Recognized by pinnate leaves with 7-13 toothed leaflets and rounded flower heads 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across that mature into spiny burrs. The burr spines are barbed and cling to wool and clothing. The number of leaflets and the length and arrangement of the spines on the mature head separate it from related burrs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'4"

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~14 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers in spring and summer, mainly October to February in its native range. The petalless heads are wind- and insect-visited and develop over several weeks into burrs. Burrs persist on the stems into autumn until dislodged by passing animals.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Grey-green to green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Forms a mat within one to two growing seasons

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on most well-drained soils across a pH range of about 5.0-7.0. Tolerates dry spells once established by dying back and reshooting from rooted nodes and the rootstock. Needs occasional water in prolonged drought to stay in leaf. Spreads by rooting stems and by burrs that attach to animals, and can move into lawns and adjacent beds. Frost browns the foliage in colder areas, with regrowth in spring. Few pests affect it, and it tolerates light foot traffic and mowing.

Pruning

Mow or trim flower heads before the burrs harden to reduce their spread and the nuisance of clinging seed. Cut back frost-damaged foliage in late winter. The mat regrows from rooted nodes and the rootstock.